When the bell rings to open a new racing season, real racers respond. And that opening bell is sending top-flight open wheel development team Abel Motorsports back to the F3 Americas Championship Powered by Honda next weekend at Barber Motorsports Park in Alabama.

Abel Motorsports captured the 2018 Driver’s Championship and the Team Championship in the first year for the new FIA-approved development series. Jacob Abel, who earned 4thin the final 2018 standings, will drive the team’s entry in the Barber Motorsports Park doubleheader, which kicks off the second season of F3 Americas competition.

Team Principal Bill Abel noted, “We’re looking forward to having Jacob back in the car at a new venue for the series at Barber. I understand it’s one of the nicest facilities in the country, and we’re excited to kick off the new F3 Americas season there. It’ll be great to support Honda Racing and HPD on Honda IndyCar Grand Prix weekend, and to see old friends who competed against us the past few years in F4 US and F3 Americas.”

In 2018, Abel Motorsports won 15 of the 17 F3 Americas races, romping to both Series Championships. While the competition is expected to be stronger this year, the Kentucky-based team is planning to be more than equal to the challenge.

Lead driver Jacob Abel is equally excited. “I’ve missed being in the F3 race car. The platform we have, the Ligier JS3 chassis and the turbocharged Honda engine, is terrific. I love driving the car. It suits my driving style, and we’re looking forward to picking up where we left off at the end of last season. It’s important, too, for me to get some seat time and laps at Barber, one of the most important IndyCar venues on the calendar.”

The 2019 F3Americas Powered by Honda season opens Saturday April 6thwith qualifying at 8:05am CDT, with race #1 of the weekend going green at 11:45am Central.